Illuminating apparatus.



E. F. MEADOR. ILLUMINATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. 1915.

Patented Nov. 21, 14916.

oErIoE.

EUGENE E. MEAnon, or DANvILLn rrndmm ILLUMI'NATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2i, wie.

Application med May 3, 1915. Serial No. 25,563.

To all whom it ymay concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE F. MEADOR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Danville, in the county of Pittsylvania and State ofVirginia',have invented certain new in illuminating apparatus and more.particJ ularly to headlight such as automobiles, like. The primaryobject in view is the obtainl5 ing of maximum efficiency in theprojection of light rays vwhile providing a relatively confined area forthe projector.

A further object in view is the taking advantage of the reduced arearequired for such a projector for providinga supplementalprojectorassembled in a single head# light casing.

With Ythese and further objects in view, the invention comprisessubstantially onehalf of a parabolic reflector and a concaved reflectordisposed to' deflect light rays across the -line of 'the axis of theparabola, the reflectors being adapted to contain a light disposedysubstantially coaxial with the parab'ola.

The invention further comprises substantially one-half of a parabolicreflector and a'substantially semi-globular concaved reflector disposedto reflect light into the rst mentioned reflector, and a supplementalreflector disposed adjacent the first mentioned reflector.

rlhe invention still further comprises a structures for vehicles, motorboats, and the headlight casing, a reflector arranged in the j t0 lowerportion ofthe casing, a supplemental reflector. `of proportions reducedrelative to the first mentioned reflector. and arranged between thefirst mentioned reflector and the upper portion of the casing, independtent lights for the reflectors, the casing being formed at its rearportion with a li ht exit and the second mentioned reflector eing formedat its rear portion with a light exit. Y

The invention also comprises certain other novel constructions,combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter specifiedand claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings, Fi re ce' 1 isv ya vertical centralsection throug a light embodying the features of the present invention,parts being seen in elevation. Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a headlight casing'preferabl of the well known bullet shape, to the ront of which isdetachably connected the door 2 carrying thelens or transparentA plate3. The rear portion of the casing l is formed with a light opening 4closed by a glass cover 5.

Arranged in the lower portionof the casing l is the reflector 6 which isformed in the shape of substantially the lower half of a parabolicreflector. The upper edges of the forward portion of the reflector G areconnected by a flat reflector plate 7 `Plate 7 at its inner portionterminates in a substantially semi-globular concave reflector 8 disposedto direct light rays down against the parabolic reflector 6 across theaxis of the parabola.

Within the area provided by the rear por-y tion of reflector 6 and byreflector 8 is arranged the incandescent electric light bulb 9 havingthe usual shank 10 detachably interlocked in a socket 11 sustained inthe sleeve 12 fixed to the rear of the reflectors (Sand 8, thereflectors being apertured for the passage of the vsocket lllI Currentis supplied to the light 9 through socket l1 by conductors 13 leadingfrom any appropriate source not illustrated, through a sleeve 14 fixedin casing 1. The significance of the structural features of thisreflector body whereby the efficient result is securedy will now bebriefly noted.

` 's'hereinbefore premised, the supplemental reflector 8 is ofrelatively small area and its focal center is coincident with the focalcenter of the main reflector 6, at which focal center the source oflight is also located. The axis of said reflector 8, as the device isillustrated in the official drawings. leans forwardly from the verticalso as to reflect the light rays strikingk its surface back through thefocal center so as to concentrate these rays as much as possible in thesmall portion of the reflector (l onto which they are directed and fromwhich they are reflected forwardly in horizontal planes. The exactyangularity of the axis of the supplemental reflector with relation tothe axis of the main reflector may vary according to the variation inthe height of lamps from the ground as applied to vehicles of differenttypes or sizes. Advantage is taken of the inefficient point of thereflectorA device, defined by the juncture of the supplemental and mainreflectors, in that at this location the light socket 12 is positioned,and furthermore it is to be observed that the concave reflector 8 isvery closely arranged to the light so as to catch tion while saving aconsiderable amount of current which would be required for a high candlepower light most usually employed.

The upper portion of the casing 1 is occupied by a reflector 15 ofreduced size relative to reflector 6. The reflector 15 has its upperportion forming substantially one-half of a parabolic reflector, and thelower portion of the reflector, while curved rearwardly as clearly seenin Fig. l, is substantially straight transversely as clearly seerl inFig. 2. A light 16 of similar structure and arrangement to light 9 butof smaller caliber is arranged in the apex ofreflector 15 and suppliedwith current through conductors 18 leading through sleeve 14 from anyappropriate source of current. The lower portion of reflector 15 isapertured at 19, the aperture being closed by a transparent plate 20preferably of glass. The aperture 19 is located relative to aperture 4such that light rays passing through aperture 19 will be projectedthrough aperture 41 and thus light the structure in`the rear, as Vforexample the side or running board of the car, or side of a boat.

, It ywill be noted that the reflector 15 is so arranged and constructedas to project therk light rays ordinarily above the plane of theroadway, while the light rays arek projected from reflector 6substantially parallel to the roadway above the same, and light raysfrom reflector 7 are projected down` against the roadway, while thosefrom reflector 8 are directed down against reector 6.

It is believed the operation will be obvious and -may be briefly statedas consistent of utilization of the lower light for suburban service,while the upper light is employed where detection quired.

Having thus described the invention, what l claim as new is:

1. A headlight structure comprising a reflector body consisting of alowersemi-paraboloidal section, a supplemental concave reflectorarranged over said section and having its focal center coincident withthe focal center of the first mentioned lreflector whereby the lightrays from thel concave reflector are reflected back through the focalcenter aforesaid, a source of light in said reflector, and means fordeflecting upwardly directed rays downwardly across the aXis of theparaboloid.

2. A headlight structure comprising a reflector consisting o-f a mainsemi-paraboloidal reflector, a source of. light arranged at the focalcenter of said reflector, and a supplemental reflector of relativelysmall area cooperating with the main reflector and arranged in closeproximity .to the source `of light and above the same, whereby tointercept the upwardly directed light rays close to the point ofdivergence of the same and reflect them back through the focal center ofand onto the main reflector.

3. A headlight structure comprising a main semi-paraboloidal reflector,a source of light disposed substantially at the focal center Lof saidreflector, a supplemental concave reflector of relatively small areaextending forwardly of the apeX and over the main reflector and havingits focal center coincident with the focal center of said mainreflector, and a flat reflector above the "axis/of the paraboloid andjoining the front edge of the supplemental reflector and extending tothe base of the main reflector to intercept the upwardly directed raysemanating from the portion of the source of light not at the focalcenter aforesaid.A A

4. In a headlight structure, the combination, with a casing, of areflector in the lower portion thereof comprising substantially thelower half of a paraboloidal reflector and a cover for said lower halfhaving its forward portion flattened to provide a maximum spaceintermediate ther cover and the top portion of the casing, and anindependent reflector in said casing disposed in the upper portionthereof and occupying the space unoccupied by the first mentionedreflector, 11,5 said. independent reflector having its upper portionconforming tothe casing and its lower portion conforming to theflattened portion of the cover aforesaid and seating thereon.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature.

EUGENE F. MEADUR.

of the roadway is not re-

